Dana Laganella Gerling, estate planning attorney with the Gerling Law Group of Bradenton, was recently recognized in the 2010 edition of Florida Trend magazine’s Legal Elite. the list of 1,160 honorees represents only 1.8 percent of the more than 64,000 active Florida Bar members practicing in the state. Florida attorneys were asked to name the attorneys that they hold in highest regard as professionals.
Caldwell Trust co. has promoted Sonya Dlug to the position of trust officer, based in Caldwell’s downtown Sarasota office. Dlug joined the company as an intern in 2003. After graduating from the University of South Florida in 2005, she became a trust assistant and later a trust associate and an assistant trust officer.
Gregory Hall, of Hall Architects, P.a., and Dane Spencer were chosen as exhibitors in the James Rose Center international design competition “Suburbia Transformed,” which recognizes excellence in sustainable practices in architecture and garden design.
Veronica Brady will join the staff of Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice in September as vice president for philanthropy and donor relations. in her new role, Brady will guide the foundation’s work with philanthropic families, individuals and businesses to help them achieve their charitable goals. She will also engage these donors and local nonprofit organizations in building the foundation’s permanent endowment. Brady currently serves as senior vice president of private wealth management at SunTrust Bank.
Maureen Schoning of Argus Property Management has been promoted to the position of community association manager for Lakeridge Falls Homeowners Association, in south Manatee County. Schoning has worked as a portfolio manager at Argus for three years. Lakeridge Falls is a community of 399 units for residents over 55.
Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School in Bradenton has expanded its administrative staff, through new hires and promotions. the appointments are: Nancy Carr, alumni relations director; Rick Ellis, director of college counseling; Sallie Ivin, former Saint Stephens elementary school teacher, now director of Intermediate School; Kim Lord, college counselor; Dave Samler, recently retired Saint Stephen’s athletic director, now director of community relations; Dannie Sherrill, former Saints Fund coordinator, now endowment development director; Tracy Vanderneck, director of annual giving; and Charles Williamson, athletic director.
The all Achievers Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association has inducted its board for the 2010-11 year. Officers are: president, Jean Lejnar, owner of the Organizer of Sarasota inc.; president-elect, Lori Denny, owner and president of LEDS Computer Solutions; vice president, Konstanza Beverly, vice president and branch manager, Florida Bank; recording secretary, Valerie Misa-Hoffmann, marketing and development manager, Suncoast Humane Society; corresponding secretary, Debbie Roser, independent distributor, SendOutCards; and treasurer, Linda McConnell, vice president of mortgage production, Urban Trust Bank.
CFRE International has recertified Joan Kemeny Paru, of Sarasota, as a Certified Fund Raising Executive. Individuals granted the CFRE credential have met a series of standards that include tenure in the profession, education, demonstrated fundraising achievement and a commitment to service to nonprofit organizations. Paru is president of Bright ideas Consulting in Development.
The Oaks Club Board of Governors has named Danielle Hallman as membership and marketing director of the Oaks Club in Osprey. for the last four years, Hallman has worked as director of sales at Heron Creek Golf & Country Club in North Port. Before that, she was director of membership at the Golden Bear Club at Keene’s Pointe in Windermere.
Donald Donovan Jr. , PA-C, and Joshua O’Dea, DOM, will be joining the Oaks Family Practice in Sarasota. Donovan has been practicing in Sarasota for 26 years and formerly owned the Sarasota Medical Center. O’Dea has practiced acupuncture and Oriental medicine in the area for six years.
Sarasota Jungle Gardens has appointed Linda and Ellian Rosaire as animal department managers. Linda has 20 years of experience caring for exotic and domestic animals. Ellian owns and manages Rosaire’s Riding Academy in Sarasota. both sisters provide care to animals at the big Cat Habitat in east Sarasota County.
The 1st C.L.a.S.S. Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association has elected and installed officers for 2010-11. they are: president, Sharone Martinelli, Wagner Realty; vice president, Cynthia Truewell, Manatee County Sheriff’s Office; secretary, Traci McIntyre, owner of HHHT Auto Repair; treasurer, Julie Rio, Rehfeldt Group PA; and past president, Dennise Berger, Southern Commerce Bank.
Dr. Jeffrey Davis has joined Manatee Sarasota Eye Clinic. Davis is a fellowship-trained cornea specialist who comes to the clinic from the University of Texas Southwestern, where his training in cornea, external diseases and refractive surgery was completed. Davis will serve patients at offices in Bradenton, Ellenton and Sun City Center.
Kenneth Garcia, a financial adviser with Edward Jones in Sarasota, has been named to the advisory board of Keep Sarasota County beautiful. Garcia has worked for Edward Jones since 2004 and has lived in Sarasota for 23 years.
The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce has hired Anthony Hartman as membership coordinator and Morgan Gerhart as membership services specialist. Hartman has 20 years of database and information management experience. Gerhart has a diverse background in hospitality, tourism and nonprofit work.
The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee hired a number of full-time faculty members in time for the fall semester, which began Aug. 23. they are: Lyn Boyer, Educational Leadership; Keith Cavedo and Wilma Davidson, English; Elizabeth Carlson and Heather Lively, Accounting; Kiyoung Chang, Finance; Cihan Cobanoglu, School of Hotel and Restaurant Management; Susan Fulton, Communication Sciences and Disorders; Nancy Haas and Jean Kabongo, Management; Patricia Hunsader and Janet King, Childhood Education; Lauriann Jones-Moore, Psychology; Terry Osborn, dean, Education; Melissa Sloan, ISS and Sociology; and Donna Trent, ISS.
Renee Fletcher has been promoted to the position of lead ARNP, or advanced registered nurse practitioner, at Pines of Sarasota. a native Floridian who grew up in Sarasota, Fletcher moved back last year from Seattle, Wash. She has worked as a geriatric ARNP since 2001 in hospital-based skilled-nursing facilities, adult family homes and private long-term care and skilled nursing facilities. her nursing background includes cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery and home-health nursing. Fletcher is board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center in adult nursing and also holds certification from the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society in wound care.
Tammy Kovar, owner of Biological Tree and Landscape Services in Sarasota, recently hosted a discussion with executives from three European companies about the potential market for cutting-edge biologically based products in the Sarasota area. Attending were Dr. Miroslav Vosatka, of Symbiom, a Czech company focused on the market for its sustainable biofertilizers; Dr. John Dodd, of Bioenergy Services Ltd. of the United Kingdom, which plans to support Symbiom’s efforts; and Dr. Naz Bashir, chief executive of AlgaeCytes Ltd., also in the United Kingdom. AlgaeCytes is investigating a project where products from the growth of algae can be used in commercial applications while helping to clean waste water.
Ellen Teeter, an acupuncture physician in Bradenton, attended the Florida State Oriental Medical Association Annual Conference Aug. 26-29. Teeter has served on the association board for the past seven years and served as a volunteer at this year’s conference.
The Georgia Tech College of Engineering has named R.G. “Kelly” Caldwell Jr. to its 2010 Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni. Caldwell, chief executive of Caldwell Trust co. in Sarasota and Venice, was one of only 18 chosen this year. College Dean Don Giddens described the honorees as “true role models for future generations of engineers.”
Brian Lichterman, owner of Vision Planning & Design in Lakewood Ranch, has completed the state of Florida real estate exam to become a licensed real estate associate. He also recently joined the Lakewood Ranch office of Keller Williams Realty as a Realtor/planner. He has 30 years of experience in land planning, including 22 years working as a senior planner for Sarasota County government. His land use planning firm has specialized in providing entitlements to property by processing petitions for rezoning, special exceptions and comprehensive plan amendments.
Kelly Defebo, sales manager, and Jason Puckett, sports manager, both of the Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau, have completed the second part of a three-year professional development program that will lead to certification as tourism marketing professionals. Defebo and Puckett took part in the weeklong Southeast Tourism Society Marketing College on the campus of North Georgia College & State University in Dahlonega, Ga.
The Green Career Center, which has an office in Sarasota, recently signed contracts to undertake energy-saving improvements and greenhouse projects at the Miami Job Corps Center. Dale Lewis is the general contractor at the Green Career Center, with partners Tom Valente and John Lambie.
Shinn & co. LLC, Certified Public Accountants and Consultants, has hired David Lanni as a senior manager. formerly with UHY Advisors in Michigan, Lanni has 15 years of experience in both tax and audit. Shinn & co. specializes in accounting, auditing, taxation and business consulting.
Global Organic Specialty Source inc., a Sarasota-based wholesale organic produce distributor, has hired Carl Ream as director of business development and Deborah Bloomquist as director of sales. Ream has 35 years of experience in the produce industry, working with both retailers and growers. Bloomquist has 20 years of sales experience, including eight years in a leadership role.
